“That thing isn’t even human!!” Those are the words I heard come out of my mouth upon seeing my first transsexual person, and it bothers me to this day that I said them. A friend had taken me to a dance and standing in the center of the room was a very tall person. My friend told me about her and what that meant. I was so appalled and horror-stricken, we decided to leave and go elsewhere. Not long after the above incident, I had gone into a Christian bookstore. I was the only customer so the clerk and I struck up a conversation in which he began to tell me about his current situation. He proceeded to tell me that he had been a man, became a woman, and was in the process of becoming a man again. Just then two others came into the store. We began talking and the man began to tell me about the woman he was with. She had been a man, went through the process of becoming a woman, and was going to become a man again. Because of a change in religious beliefs, these two people were told they were no longer acceptable as they were, so they had to change back to the way they were before. Before I could leave, someone suggested that we hold hands in a circle and pray. Next thing I knew I was standing there and on each side of me I was holding hands with one of these “freaks.” Then something happened. While someone was praying, I heard the words in my mind very clearly, just as if someone was standing there speaking them aloud, “Karen, these are my children, and I love them just as much as any of my children.” Did I really just hear those words? No one in the circle spoke them. Therefore I knew that Spirit was gently giving me a wonderful message. I may not have had an instant turnaround in my thinking or beliefs, but a seed was planted that would continue to grow and manifest until they took hold years later. I learned that we are all children of God and that we are all loved equally. Since then, I’ve met and gotten to know so many wonderful people who happen to be gay and I love them dearly. They are some of the nicest, kindest, most accepting people I know. It pains me to see the discrimination, even hate, which they have to deal with in our society, much of it being propagated by some religions and politicians. Jesus made it very clear that we are to love one another regardless of color, race, religion, politics, sexual preference, gender, and so on. Being straight, I don’t understand what makes someone gay. But I also don’t understand what makes people fall in love, the miracle of childbirth, or any other wonderful mysteries life bestows upon us. I am not going to get into any Biblical or political arguments over people’s beliefs about this. The point I’m trying to make is that these are human beings. They laugh, cry, hurt, and feel joy. They're kind, compassionate, and they love deeply. They care about others and will help them when and where they can. They're humanitarians, philanthropists, and they care about what happens to our world. They live in all corners of the earth, from all professions, races, cultures, and religions. They love their family, friends, and pets, and they grieve when they lose them. You don’t have to agree with the lifestyle. That’s your choice. But they don’t deserve to be hated and treated horribly just because of perceived differences. History has shown us that since the beginning of humankind, discrimination, hatred, bigotry, and ignorance have been perpetuated against various cultures and groups of people. But history has also taught us that the human spirit is strong and we will prevail until all are loved and accepted equally. American Indians, Jews, Japanese, gays, Muslims, Hispanics, woman, and so on have been discriminated against and/or oppressed at one time or another, or continue to be to this day. What history is also teaching us, though, is that oppressing any person or any group of people is not our natural state of being. People are starting to ‘get it.’ We really are one and it really is all about unconditional love for all beings. It’s time to stop the hating towards anyone. Nelson Mandela said it best when he stated, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

“There comes a time when we heed a certain call; When the world must come together as one; There are people dying; And it's time to lend a hand to life; The greatest gift of all. We can't go on pretending day by day; That someone, somewhere will soon make a change; We all are a part of God's great big family; And the truth, you know, Love is all we need. We are the world, we are the children; We are the ones who make a brighter day; So let's start giving; There's a choice we're making; We're saving our own lives; It's true we'll make a better day; Just you and me. Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares; And their lives will be stronger and free; As God has shown us by turning stone to bread; So we all must lend a helping hand. When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all; But if you just believe there's no way we can fall; Well...well...well; Let's realize that a change can only come; When we stand together as one.” The above are lyrics to “We Are the World (USA for Africa)” which were written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, and sung by over 45 well-known musicians. The proceeds were used to feed starving people in Africa. But the song could be used just as much today because the words speak to the hearts of so many There is so much going on in the world right now. So much violence, hate, bigotry, and fighting. If you watch, read, or listen to any of the medias, you will hear mostly all negative news. It is very rare that the media will communicate any of the good that is occurring, and my friends, there is so much good occurring all over the world! It’s hard not to wonder what on earth is going on with people now-a-days. The hate and vitriol that is being spewed forth from religious leaders, politicians, and others is just mind-boggling! But what you’re not hearing is that there are people all over the world who are coming together in harmony to help each other and to be of service to humanity. People are awakening! We know that we are brothers and sisters on this great planet of ours! We look for what we have in common rather than focusing on any perceived differences. We know that when people work to destroy others, we’re only destroying ourselves. But when we work together in love, peace, and harmony, we build a strong foundation where we can lift each other up. There are many protests happening all over our country and in the world, and it’s the violent, horrifying ones that are making the news. Not too long ago, there was a protest in Turkey that made world history though you probably didn’t hear about it. One man began his protest by just standing. Standing for hours; not moving. Others began to join him. Soon it became a movement in various parts of the world where people would protest by just standing. No violence. By peaceful protesting, they made an impact like no other. Back in 1986, there was an event I participated in called “Hands Across America.” Almost seven million people held hands in a human chain that crossed the continental United States from New York to California. Celebrities, politicians, people from all races, religions, cultures, and genders came together for the greater good. Money raised was donated to help fight hunger and homelessness. The feeling of knowing we were a part of something so great and wonderful was very exciting! And no one was harmed! There are many of us in the world who are the peacekeepers, the light workers, those who know that if we are to move forward, we have got to come together as one. We need to start standing up for what’s right, good, loving, and kind, and do so with compassion in our hearts. The challenge is that we’re not the complainers, nor do we attack others in public, so our message is not being heard like those who only know hatred. But we can make a difference. One person and one cause at a time. The Dalai Lama said, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Desmond Tutu stated, “God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.” And Ram Dass declared, “As we grow in our consciousness, there will be more compassion and more love, and then the barriers between people, between religions, between nations will begin to fall. Yes, we have to beat down the separateness.” Published in the Cookeville Herald Citizen newspaper July 18, 2014.

There are postings on Facebook that say, “If you show me respect, THEN I’ll show you respect!” Except I think they have it backwards. It should read, “I’ll show you respect first, and if you respect me, fine; if not, that’s okay, too.” How many people go through life expecting others to be nice to them first, and then they’ll be nice in return? How many times have we heard people say, “No one treats me nice, so why should I treat others nice?” What you give, you get in return. I enjoy Facebook because I have met and gotten to know some of the most amazing people all over the world! Some I’ve even become close friends with even though we’ve never met. They come from all colors, races, religions, cultures, and politics. Even though many of us are different in so many ways, I respect them for who they are and for what they believe. I also use Facebook to try to lift people up and maybe bring a smile to their face. You never know when something you post will be that one positive message that someone needed at that moment. I don’t mind people sharing their thoughts and beliefs as long as they do so with respect and do not bash any person or group of people; nor do I like arguing and fighting over who is right or wrong. I just don’t want that kind of energy on my page. There have been numerous people whom I have de-friended because of their hateful, bigoted, and ignorant comments and posts. Yet I have acquired an incredible group of friends, most being from the spiritual community all over the world; those who are promoting love, peace, kindness, compassion, and oneness. The great thing about Facebook is that I have control over who my friends are, what shows up on my stream, and what direction a conversation may take. If I see something I don’t agree with, I can either ignore it, hide it, or if it’s really offensive, I can de-friend. I don’t feel a need to go all negative on someone’s post. It’s the same when I see something on TV or read something in the papers. I respect other people’s right to have their own beliefs and opinions, and I have no desire to criticize, condemn, judge, or tear someone down because of any perceived differences. (This is not to say I won’t stand up for an injustice, but I try to do so in peace.) I take Jesus’ teachings very seriously when he said to love one another so I try to watch my words and actions carefully. I ask myself, “Am I lifting someone up? Or am I tearing them down?” I’m definitely not perfect at it. There are times when I’ll say or do something in a knee-jerk fashion. Fortunately, it’s not often. But when I do, I feel that loving, spiritual smack on the back of my head and I hear the words, “Karen! This is NOT who you are!” When was the last time you received a compliment? When was the last time you gave a compliment? It seems easier to find fault and criticize. Complimenting and saying something kind to others are gifts that keep on giving. When you make someone else feel good, they’ll likely make someone else feel good, and on and on it can go. Likewise, it makes us feel good for making someone else feel good! We currently live in a world where it seems to be so much easier to be negative than it is to be positive, where the bad news gets all the press, and you see so many people just being so mean-spirited towards each other. We feel powerless to change it. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It begins with us. We need to be very careful of our thoughts, the words we speak, and our actions because that will be the world we create around us. Also, the way we treat others is a direct reflection on our own integrity and character, as well as the way we feel about ourselves. Albert Einstein said, “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” What a great concept to try to live up to! We should ask ourselves… When it comes to our time to leave this earth, how would we want to be remembered? Personally, I’m hoping I can be remembered as someone who loved everyone I could, did whatever I could to lift people up, and maybe, just maybe, helped make this world a little bit better place. But trust me…I’m a work in progress. Published in the Cookeville Herald Citizen newspaper August 2, 2013.

Imagine you have a well paying job with excellent benefits. Your family lives in a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood; your children are healthy and doing well in school. Your family has many friends and a great social life. Your spouse has some health issues, but because of the insurance at work, everything is manageable. Now imagine one day you go into work and your boss calls you into his office. Because the company is experiencing financial issues, they have to downsize many of their employees and you are one of them. You are asked to collect your things and leave that day. They give you a small severance package and you can take COBRA, the extended insurance coverage, but you have to pay full premiums which runs over $1,500 a month for your family. You arrive home and break it to your spouse. You have a little saved up and the severance package will hold you for a few months, but the insurance premiums, mortgage, and other bills are going to take a big chunk out of your finances. You try to get another job, but jobs are scarce. Months go by and your money starts to dwindle. COBRA runs out and you can’t get insurance because you cannot afford it and your spouse can’t be covered because of pre-existing conditions. Because there is no health care, your spouse’s health rapidly declines. Your children are complaining because you can no longer afford to pay for their cell phones and other gadgets. Soon, you can no longer make your mortgage payments and you lose your home. Your family and friends start forgetting about you. Without any other place to go, you live either out of your car or in homeless shelters. Eventually, you end up on the street. Many of us judge the less fortunate thinking that all they have to do is get a job, stop eating, stop taking drugs or drinking, all they have to do….. It is only by fate that we are not in those same situations. It can happen to any one of us. Think it can’t happen? Ask anyone who thought the same thing and yet it did happen. No matter how hard people try, sometimes life just happens and they end up where they never thought they would end up. In 1989, I was given a dream. In this dream a “force” took me into various scenarios: a bar filled with alcoholics and people who had given up on life, a homeless camp filled with adults and children, and a veterans’ hospital, filled with broken men and women. As I looked at these people, I was able to see into their lives to see what they experienced and what they were feeling. Many lost hope. Ever since then, I learned that there is always a bigger picture, and I learned to have so much more love, compassion, and understanding for those who are experiencing life at its worst. How many of us look at the less fortunate and throw them by the wayside not caring about them or wanting anything to do with them? We think they have nothing to do with us so why bother? Yet they are still human beings and they still matter. How many politicians, religious leaders, and others want to completely push so many of these aside and not care for them? Jesus said “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40). When we don’t care, what does that say about us as human beings, as Christians (or whatever your religion), as a society, or as a country? Jesus, as well as all the great spiritual masters throughout time, taught us to be our brothers’ keeper and to be ambassadors of love, faith, hope, and charity. When we turn our backs on the less fortunate, we are turning our backs on everything Jesus and these other masters taught and stood for. We humans have the greatest capacity to be the ultimate humanitarians. We are at our best when we take care of each other. Will you be that humanitarian? Will you help care for the less fortunate? Will you be their advocate? Will you speak up for them? It is only by fate that we are not in their shoes. Remember, it could be you in their shoes. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama Published in the Cookeville Herald Citizen newspaper July 26, 2013.

The other day I stopped at a bookstore and there was a gentleman sitting at a table on the patio. I gave him a cheerful greeting and a smile. He glanced at me quickly and didn’t say a word. My first thought was to call him a very unspiritual name (yes, even I have my moments). As usual, Spirit gave me the spiritual smack on the back of the head and gently said, “Karen, you don’t know what’s going on in his life. He may be severely depressed and just barely able to function, he may have gone through something traumatic, lost someone, or he could have been so taken back that someone would acknowledge his existence that he didn’t know what to say. Remember, there’s always a bigger picture. Be careful with those quick judgments.” Yeah, I know, but sometimes those judgmental thoughts just sneak right on in there before I can stop them. There’s a saying: “You may not be able to stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop it from building a nest.” We all have those judgments that just pop right on in there. It’s what we do with them after they do their popping. Do we expound on them, or do we allow Spirit to gently guide us back into alignment with the consciousness of love? Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:1-2) Jesus makes it very clear that we are not to judge others, and yet how many of us do? So many think it’s our job to cast judgment on others and to tell others what God thinks about them. We all do it to some degree. Even me, though I know that spiritual smack will follow! We judge people because they may not believe as we do, they may look, dress, or live in ways we don’t approve, or they may come from a different religion, culture, political viewpoint, or whatever. Many believe it’s up to us to set them straight; to live up to the way we think they should be. That is not what Jesus or any of the other great spiritual teachers throughout time have taught! It seems that so many people who call themselves Christians have taken Jesus’ teachings out of Christianity. I want to make it clear that I’m not making a broad sweep statement. There are many wonderful Christians who do follow the teachings of Jesus and who walk the talk. It’s the ones who are speaking such hate towards others that are doing more harm than good. I don’t know how many people I have spoken with who say they want nothing more to do with God or religion because of the hypocrisy they see in those who say they are speaking for God yet spew forth such negativity. When people judge, gossip, or bad mouth other people, whether on the airwaves or in print, it is more of a reflection of them than it is of those they are speaking about. The barometer that I use is that I ask if they are speaking words of love, peace, kindness, and compassion. If not, then they’re not speaking for the God whose foundation is love who is everyone’s God. I love the diversity in this world and I thrive on it. I have friends from all across the world who represent this wonderful diversity and I love every one of them. My friends are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, white, black, brown, red, gay, straight, Democrat, Republican, and many more representing all areas of this beautiful diversity in human beings. They are the most decent, kindhearted, loving people I know. I’m certainly not going to judge them because of our differences. In fact, I embrace it and focus on what we have in common! Mother Teresa said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” There was a great YouTube video of Dustin Hoffman talking about how all his life he judged women by their appearances. He even got teary-eyed when he mentioned his regret of all the great women he could have known if he would have seen past their looks. I thought this was so inspiring! How many of us miss out on the chance to meet some really wonderful people because we are sitting in judgment of our differences? It’s my sole responsibility to love all people unconditionally. I may not be perfect at it, but I choose to follow Jesus’ teachings when he commanded us to love one another. It’s all about the love, my friends. All about the love.